Twine dispensing device



Sept. 24, 1968 E. M. PERCELAY TWINE DISPENSING DEVICE Inventor, Earl JV. PerceZ Filed June 27, 1967 United States Patent 3,402,810 TWINE DISPENSING DEVICE Earl M. Percelay, Pawtucket, R.I., assignor to New England Twine & Cordage Company, Pawtucket, R.I., a

corporation of Rhode Island Filed June 27, 1967, Ser. No. 649,187 Claims. (Cl. 206-59) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE 'A twine dispenser including a display card on which a clear plastic housing is mounted, a package of twine being located in the housing and conforming generally to the configuration thereof, an opening being formed centrally of the front wall of the housing for receiving a free end of the twine therethrough wherein the twine is extracted from the dispenser in required lengths, without removing the twine package from the dispenser in which it is purchased.

Background of the invention Twine or cord as used by the ordinary household consumer is normally purchased in a package in wound form, and the twine is removed from the package in desired lengths by unwinding it'directly from the package. In many households, the twine or cord package has a tendency to be misplaced unless stored in a particular container; and when it is used, unwinding the twine from the package is somewhat awkward and many times results in the extracting of a greater length than desired. Prior to the instant invention, some elforts have been made to incorporate a container for use with a package of twine or cord, but these containers were not purchased as part of the twine package itself and since they were fabricated of relatively expensive materials, the cost thereof was prohibitive.

Summary of the invention The present invention relates to a twine dispenser that includes a card or panel having an inexpensive plastic housing mounted thereon and in which a package of twine is located. The twine package is thus incorporated with the card as a unit when purchased, and the card may be mounted on a display stand for easy viewing and handling. The plastic housing is formed in a cylindrical construction for accommodating the twine package and includes a front wall in which an opening is formed, an end of the twine extending through the opening and being externally accessible when the twine is to be extracted for use. The twine dispenser of the subject invention is also adaptable for use on a horizontal surface, and for this purpose, the cylindrical housing is formed with a foot portion that cooperates with the lowermost edge of the card on which the housing is mounted to provide for locating the card in an upright position, in which position the accessible end of the twine package is easily available for extracting the twine in the required length.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a relatively inexpensive combination display and dispensing device for use with a package of twine, wherein the twine is dispensed in required lengths without removing the package from the dispenser in which it is purchased.

Another object of the invention is to provide a twine dispensing device that includes a card on which a clear plastic housing is mounted, a package of twine being located in the housing and being readily accessible by means of a free end that projects through an opening formed in the front wall of the housing.

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Still another object is to provide a twine dispensing device that may be interchangeably mounted on a wall or in an upright position for ready accessibility to the twine.

Still another object is to provide a twine dispensing device having a housing in which a package of twine is located and that includes means for retaining the free end of the twine in secure position prior to the extracting of the twine from the dispensing device.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

Description of the drawing In the drawing which shows the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the twine dispensing device embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view showing another position of the twine dispensing device as mounted on a wall.

Description of the invention Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the twine dispensing device embodied herein is generally indicated at 10 and includes a card generally indicated at 12 that is comprised of a lower portion 14 and an upper portion 16 joined to the lower portion 14 along a perforated line 18. The card 12 is formed of any suitable material, such as cardboard, plastic or the like and may further have any required identifying advertising descriptive material or designs imprinted thereon. Preferably the upper portion 16 of the card 12 includes the advertising or descriptive material, since this portion may be removed and discarded by tearing along the perforation 18 after purchase of the dispensing device. As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the lower card portion 14 has an opening 20 formed therein adjacent to a corner thereof and that is provided for hanging of the dispensing device on a wall. An opening 22 is also formed in the upper card portion 16 that provides for mounting the dispensing device 10 in a display position on a display rack or the like.

The object of the twine dispensing device 10 is to provide for extraction of twine therefrom in required lengths without removal of the twine package from the device as manufactured and assembled. For this purpose, a package of twine indicated at 24 is wound on a tube in cylindrical form and is retained in a housing generally indicated at 26 that is mounted on the lower portion 14 of the card 12. The housing 26 is preferably formed of an inexpensive transparent plastic material and as molded comprises a cylinder 28, a front wall 30 integrally joined to the cylinder 28 at the forward portion thereof and a flange 32 joined to the cylinder 28 at the rear portion thereof, the housing being open at the rear end as indicated in FIG. 2. It is seen that the twine package 24 is suitably mounted within the housing 26 by securing the housing 26 on the card 12, and this is accomplished by placing the flange 32 in flush contact with the lower portion 14 of the card 12 and then stapling or otherwise securing the flange by adhesive or the like to the adjacent surface of the lower card portion 14.

In order to extract the twine from the housing 26, a free end of the twine package indicated at 32 extends through a central opening 34 that is formed in the front wall 3-0 of the housing. As assembled and prior to use, the free end 32 of the twine is secured against unwinding by a circular label or seal 36 that is disposed within a circular recess 38 that is formed in the front wall 30 in 3 l coaxial relation with respect to the opening 34. In order that the label 36 be located within the recess 38 in flush engagement with the bottom wall thereof and in order to secure the end 32 of the twine against movement prior to the use thereof, a groove 40 is formed in the recess 38 and further extends through the front wall 30 of the housing 26. As shown in FIG. 1, the groove 40 communicates with the opening 34 so that the end 32 of the twine that extends through the opening 34 is received within the groove 40 and retained therein so that it extends just above the surface of the recess 38 when the seal 36 is secured in place. The seal 36 thus engages the portion of the twine that projects above the groove to insure that the twine is secured in the groove 40. It is seen that when a portion of the twine is to be removed from the dispensing device, the seal 36 is lifted, as indicated in dotted [lines in FIG. 2, thereby releasing the end of the twine 32, which may then be pulled outwardly to extract the required length of the twine from the housing 26.

In the use of the dispensing device, the top or header portion 16 of the card 12 may be removed from the lower portion 14 if it is desired to use the dispenser without the advertising material as contained on the header 16. The dispensing device may also be moutned on a hook, nail or the like in a vertical position by removing the header or upper portion 16 of the card 12 and tearing along the perforation 18. The lower portion 14 of the card on which the housing 26 is mounted is then rotated such that the opening 20 is located at the uppermost position for hanging on a nail or hook, as indicated in FIG. 3.

On occasion, it may be desirable to locate the dispensing device in a horizontal position on a flat surface. For this purpose, the housing 26'is formed with a foot portion 42 that is molded as an integral part of the cylindrical portion 28 of the housing. The foot portion 42 is disposed at the lowermost end of the cylindrical portion 28, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, and includes a bottom wall 44 that is adapted to engage the surface on which the dispensing device is placed. In this connection, the bottom wall 44 has a rear flange 46 formed as an integral part thereof and which is coextensive with the lower edge of the card 12. Thus, the bottom wall 44 of the foot portion 42 and the flange 46 which is formed as an integral part thereof cooperate with the card 12 to define a stand for the dispensing device. With the dispensing device mounted in substantially upright position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the seal 36 may be removed from the sealed position thereof and the end 32 of the twine lifted from the groove 40 and pulled to extract a required length of the twine from the housing 26.

It is seen that the dispensing device of the present invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and provides a unique arrangement for locating a package of twine therein. The device not only provides for display of the twine package on a display stand, but further enables the user of the twine to locate the dispensing device in a convenient position, wherein the twine is available for extracting the required lengths thereof from the housing 26 without removing the twine Package from the unit with which it is assembled and sold.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed that:

1. In a twine dispenser, 'a card, a housing having a generally cylindrical configuration and including a front wall in which an opening is formed, the housing being 1 open at the rear thereof and having a flange formed on the rear edge thereof, said flange engaging said card in flush relation to mount said housing on said card, wherein the axis of said housing is perpendicular to the plane of said card, and a package of twine located in said housing and conforming generally to the configuration thereof, a free end of said twine projecting through said opening in the front wall of said housing, wherein said twine is extracted from said housing through said opening as required.

2. In a twine dispenser at set forth in claim 1, a groove formed in the front wall of said housing and communicating with said opening, a part of the twine associated with the free end thereof being received in said groove and being retained therein prior to use of said dispenser, and a seal mounted on said front wall and overlying said opening and at least a portion of said groove prior to use of said dispenser for retaining said twine in said groove.

3. In a twine dispenser as set forth in claim 2, a circular recess fonmed in the front wall of said housing substantially centrally thereof, said opening being located coaxially of said recess and said groove extending therethrough, said seal being circular in configuration and conforming to the configuration of said recess and being received therein, wherein the peripheral edges of said seal are confined within said recess, and the inner surface of said seal being located in face to face contact with the bottom of said recess except where the groove is formed and in which the twine is received.

4. In a twine dispenser as set forth in claim 2, a foot portion formed on the underside of said housing and including a bottom wall that is adapted to engage a horizontal surface, said foot portion cooperating with the lowermost edge of said card to define a stand for a dispense-r when it is located on a horizontal surface, wherein said card is disposed generally vertically and the free end of said twine that projects through said opening is accessible for removing the twine from said housing in required lengths.

5. In a twine dispenser as set forth in claim 1, said housing having a projecting portion formed on the underside thereof that defines a foot portion, said foot portion including a fiat bottom wall that cooperates with said card to define a stand for said dispenser when it is located on a horizontal surface, wherein said card is disposed substantially vertically and the axis of said housing is substantially horizontal, the free end of said twine projecting through said opening for easy accessibility when removing the twine from said housing in the required lengths.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,202,269 8/1965 Lewis et al 206-78 3,313,194 4/ 1967 Hanscom 206-78 JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner. 

